Continued/ from 104
Their condition:
"...clothed in white robes...." these are disembodied spirits before the throne, but, in the vision, John is allowed to see them as having resurrection bodies. Scripture, especially apocalyptic scripture, tends to present things in their ultimate state; God always sees the end from the beginning. The word "clothed" along with the word "arrayed" in verse 13 is the Greek "periballo" and refers to a garment literally "thrown all around." The idea is of complete covering. They are clothed in white robes. The robe is a garment of distinction, worn only by those who have achieved a certain status. The robe is white and stands for purity, for no impurity can live in the presence of God. This purity is not their own; it has been given to them. The pure white garment, covering them in entirety speaks of the absence of any defilement whatsoever. The songwriter has captured the thought when describing heaven "where no shade nor stain can enter, or the gold be dim, there in holiness unsullied, I shall walk with Him. Meet companion then for Jesus, from Him, for Him made, Glory of God's grace forever there in me displayed." This is the robe of salvation, the righteousness of Christ imputed to every believer resulting in inward holiness. The truth of this is uttered in the following scriptures: Revelation 3v4; "They shall walk with Me in white." Revelation 4v4 "I saw four and twenty elders sitting clothed in white raiment." Revelation 6v11 "White robes were given unto everyone of them." Again in chapter 7v9 / verse 13 / verse 14 we have the same thing mentioned. This is a fulfilment of the work of God in salvation. If their position of standing before the throne would speak of their justification, the wearing of the white robe would speak of their sanctification. The purpose of God in salvation is stated in Ephesians 1v3 "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." God will surround Himself with sanctified people.
Since this is to be our eternal condition, we should be concerned about thinking of this here and now. The story is recorded of the ermine, a small stoat- like furry animal known for its snow white fur and lives in the forests of northern Europe. God has put into this animal an instinctive drive to protect his glossy white coat from becoming soiled in any way. Hunters of ermine know this trait and capitalize on it. Instead of setting a mechanical trap they find the ermine's hole in the cleft of a rock or a hollow tree and daub the entrance and the interior with black tar. Then their dogs start the chase, and the terrified ermine flees towards its home; but finding it covered with black tar, he won't enter even to save his life. He will face the yelping dogs and the hunter's net rather than soil his pure white coat. For the ermine its purity is more than life itself. (Narrated by Steven J. Cole at bible.org. August 2nd 12013 , lesson 19 "intent on holiness" 1st Peter 4v1-6).
The prophet Isaiah reflects all this when he says in chapter 61v10-11 "my soul shall be joyful in my God for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels...... so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." This is not any self righteousness, this is imputed righteousness which results in imputed holiness leading to real practical and eternal holiness. Verse 14 says "They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Physical blood would never make robes white, so this is spiritual cleansing. it is the removal of the defilement of sin without which no one will enter heaven. Only the blood of Christ cleanses from sin, only the blood of Christ fits a person for heaven. God is turning sinners into saints!
Their condition:
Since this is to be our eternal condition, we should be concerned about thinking of this here and now. The story is recorded of the ermine, a small stoat- like furry animal known for its snow white fur and lives in the forests of northern Europe. God has put into this animal an instinctive drive to protect his glossy white coat from becoming soiled in any way. Hunters of ermine know this trait and capitalize on it. Instead of setting a mechanical trap they find the ermine's hole in the cleft of a rock or a hollow tree and daub the entrance and the interior with black tar. Then their dogs start the chase, and the terrified ermine flees towards its home; but finding it covered with black tar, he won't enter even to save his life. He will face the yelping dogs and the hunter's net rather than soil his pure white coat. For the ermine its purity is more than life itself. (Narrated by Steven J. Cole at bible.org. August 2nd 12013 , lesson 19 "intent on holiness" 1st Peter 4v1-6).
The prophet Isaiah reflects all this when he says in chapter 61v10-11 "my soul shall be joyful in my God for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels...... so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." This is not any self righteousness, this is imputed righteousness which results in imputed holiness leading to real practical and eternal holiness. Verse 14 says "They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Physical blood would never make robes white, so this is spiritual cleansing. it is the removal of the defilement of sin without which no one will enter heaven. Only the blood of Christ cleanses from sin, only the blood of Christ fits a person for heaven. God is turning sinners into saints!
- Revelation 1v5 - "Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood."
- John 13v10 - "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit."
- 1st Corinthians 6v11 - "And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God."
- Hebrews 10v14 - "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified."
Only the value of the precious blood of Christ and its eternal merit to take away sins makes a human being fit for the presence of God. The apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians, "to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" said that our ultimate outcome will be "...the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Corinthians 1v2-8. Whether from Old Testament times, or the Church age, or the Tribulation period, we will all be "saints" before Him. In heaven the saints are completely covered in the pure white robes in the presence of the most Holy.
No comments:
Post a Comment